Best 55 inch TV up to £1200?

[Alikus]

Hello all - been a long time since I visted this forum and am after your wealth of experience!

I am still limping along with a 42 inch panny standard def TV after 8 years and £2500 lighter :O - TH-42PE30B. Fantastic TV in its day and still a great standard def picture considering its age, not to mention reliability. Time has come after much waiting for the next best thing, prices to drop etc to get something bigger.

Most family viewing is SkyHD, a couple of blue-ray DVDs at weekends, and the lad uses it for his xbox/wii, although to be honest he wouldnt notice the difference on any of the new LED/Plasmas (I am not a gamer). I am also not that bothered about 3D.

Viewing distance is 14 feet, so am thinking with around £1200 to spend, 55 inch is going to be the ideal size balanced against quality of picture. Am welcome to suggestions though!

So, on that basis, what should i be shortlisting, or is there a 'buy this no question' set out there?

Many thanks.

 

[simonlewis]

A few inches shorter but check out this years award winner panasonic or this 55" led panasonic.

 

[Alikus]

Thanks - any advice from anyone else? Please?

 

[Deleted member 2457]

http://www.totaldigital.biz/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=43_51&products_id=4847

This Sony is pretty good and is good for gaming.

http://www.totaldigital.biz/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=43_51&products_id=4890

This Panasonic plasma is the best around at this price, and is fantastic value for money. I think gaming response is a little slow but unless you are an avid gamer you probably won't even notice (I doubt).

They would be the two I would consider at this price.

 

[ellisdj]

get the tv as big as possible at 14 feet away

 

[mr malarky]

get the tv as big as possible at 14 feet away

+1, go for size at that distance if you want a really 'cinematic' feel

 

[Son_of_SJ]

I agree with ellisdj and Mr Malarky, at 14 feet you must go as big as you can. If it were my money, I'd go for a 60-inch - I used to have a 50-inch in my kitchen, at about 10 feet, but eventually it began to look too small. At 14 feet, I can't help thinking that even a 55-inch is too small. When I run my film shows, the people in the front row in the parlour are 9-10 feet away from a 64-inch, and NOBODY complains about the TV being too big. 55-inch at 14 feet is certainly not cinematic.

I'll wait to see if you agree with me about size before I suggest specific models!

 

[Alikus]

Thanks all for advice so far....
Am now thinking 60- 65 may be the way to go/
However, am now looking at a bigger budget and obviously a limited range.
I have just seen a panny TX-P65VT50B that I could get for £1900 with a 5 year guarantee. It's a customer return due to being too big, so as such being sold as 'used' but nonetheless is more or less 'new'.
W you say it’s worth it given it’s a 2012 model. Or would you suggest looking at one of the LG/Samsung models that can be had for around 1k, and that the difference in picture quality at 14 feet would be small?

 

[Deleted member 2457]

Thanks all for advice so far.... Am now thinking 60- 65 may be the way to go/ However, am now looking at a bigger budget and obviously a limited range. I have just seen a panny TX-P65VT50B that I could get for £1900 with a 5 year guarantee. It's a customer return due to being too big, so as such being sold as 'used' but nonetheless is more or less 'new'. W you say it’s worth it given it’s a 2012 model. Or would you suggest looking at one of the LG/Samsung models that can be had for around 1k, and that the difference in picture quality at 14 feet would be small?

The Panasonic 65VT50 doesn't sound too bad. I think if it was me I would be more tempted by the Panasonic 55VT65 for £1855 here:

http://www.totaldigital.biz/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=43_51&products_id=4838

Price match with John Lewis.

 

[Deleted member 2457]

This is a good clip of the VT65:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7OBiwSXax5A

 

[Deleted member 2457]

Just found it cheaper here at TPS at £1800 and you get a 7 year warranty and just £100 for calibration:

http://www.tps.uk.com/tps/home.html?product_id=1537&product_group_id=222&choice_id=149&tab_id=52&page_name=product

Has to be one of the best deals ever!